Nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) play a crucial role in forest regeneration by dispersing seeds. Analyzing their movement data allows us to identify frequently revisited sites, which can provide insights into harvesting and caching behavior as well as dispersal distances. Understanding these movement patterns and their ecological implications is essential for forest conservation and management (Sorensen et al. 2022; Graf et al. 2024).
How do frequently revisited sites vary among individuals, and can distinct clusters of these sites be identified?
Do revisited sites of individuals differ between males and females in terms of distance from each other?
Material and Methods
Study Area
Both studies (Sorensen et al. 2022; Graf et al. 2024) tracked spotted nutcracker movements in 2017 and 2018 within a ~15 km² area around Davos in the eastern Swiss Alps (Figure 1). In this region, Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra) forms the upper treeline between 1850 and 2200 m a.s.l., with the highest densities at mid-elevations. Valley bottoms are dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies) and European larch (Larix decidua), where Swiss stone pine is scarce.